§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will take steps so that mortgagees in Singapore can demand or recover mortgage interest due since the Japanese surrender.
Mr. Creech JonesDemands for interest on mortgages entered into prior to the date of the liberation of Singapore cannot be enforced at present owing to the moratorium, and until legislation has been enacted dealing with the valuation of transactions during the period of the Japanese occupation, some of which may have related to these mortgages, it is not possible to lift the moratorium. The question of the introduction of the legislation is at present under consideration by the Governor of Singapore, but I will ask him to consider whether it would be desirable or possible meanwhile to lift the moratorium in cases where no action was taken during the period of the Japanese occupation which in any way affects particular mortgages.